Finishes and Effects

Here are some examples of finishes and effects that I can use on your jewellery. Their are pros and cons to each but life is too short to worry about such things, so I recommend you just pick the one you like best!

These finishes can sometimes be combined depending on the design. For example, I will often highly polish the inside of a rings with satin/brushed/frosted effects on the outside. This provides a beautiful contrast between the finishes and the makes the ring smooth and comfortable to wear on the inside.

The good news is that if you choose a finish and then change your mind at a later date then I am able to change the finish at no cost other than postage charges (there are always exceptions to the rule…oxidised finish is permanent & for some custom pieces it may not always be possible to alter a finish depending on the design and construction of the piece in which case I will advise before you buy)

Polished Finish –

This is a ‘mirror’ like finish that is popular for its excellent durability.

A polished finish will wear/dull over time with natural scratches and scuffs but can be easily re-polished as and when required.

Satin (‘light matt’) Finish –

I create a satin finish by going over the surface of the metal with scotchbrite to achieve a shimmering shine and a contemporary look and feel.

A satin finish will gradually ‘polish’ up over time and may show up marks a little more quickly than a polished finish (depending on the piece and when/how it is worn).

Brushed (‘heavy matt’) Finish –

A brushed finish is a little heavier than a satin finish and is achieved by using coarser papers/tools brushed across the surface of the metal. I often ‘hatch’ this finish to give it a rougher look.

Frosted Finish –

I achieve a frosted finish by using a steel pendant drill at a low speed to evenly scuff the surface of the metal creating a sparkling effect as the light reflects of the uneven surface in different direction.

A frosted finish is harder wearing than a satin finish as it leaves a deeper mark on the surface of the metal, however, like a satin finish, this will wear by polishing up over time.

Oxidised Effect –

An oxidised effect is created by accelerating the natural tarnish that appears on silver over time. It is possible to create lots of colours with this technique but generally oxidised silver is dark grey and can then be lightly brushed to pick out the details on a piece of jewellery as you can see on these cufflinks.

Hammered Effect –

A hammered or textured effect on a metal surface is one of my favourites for adding a unique dimension to a piece of jewellery and transform a plain ring. It also adds extra shine to a piece as it reflects light of the surface at different angles.

This effect is achieved simply by hammering the surface of the metal with a ball pein hammer to create a ripple like effect. Different size hammers produce different sized ripples and I will adjust them according to the size and shape of a piece.

Bark Effect –

Similar to above but made with a different hammer, this ‘bark’ effect works well on cufflinks and rings. It is a particularly practical effect as it won’t obviously show scuffs and scratches with wear.

Planished Effect –

Also similar to a hammered finish, a planished effect is created by hitting the metal to produce a series of flat ‘planished’ edges rather than the round indents of a hammered finish.

This produces a lovely waterfall shimmer that looks fantastic either highly polished or with one of the other finishes.